Metal drawing press



Jan. 9, 1934. METHLIN 1,943,032

METAL DRAWING PRESS Filed July 6, 1931 8 Sheets-Sheet 1 Jan. 9, 1934.

N. E. METHLIN METAL DRAWING PRE SS Filed July 6. 1931 8 Sheets-Sheet 2Q. l B? f -15 P2 5 7; E 1|.J1- i M 3 g 3 11 i I ,JL'ZF: 0 I f w J n L m1934- N. E. METHLIN 1,943,032

METAL DRAWING PRESS Filed July 6, 1951 a Sheets-Sheet 3 1811- 1934- E.METHLIN METAL DRAWING PREsQs Filgd July 6, 1931 8. Sheets-Sheet 4 Jan.9, 1934. N. E. METHLIN IETAL DRAWING PRESS Filed July 6, 1931 8Sheets-Sheet 5 Jan. 9, 1934. N. E. METHLIN 1,943,032

IETAL DRAWING PRESS Filed July 6, 1931 8 Sheets-Sheet 6 lgry w Jan.9,1934. N. E. m muy 1,943,032

IIETAL DRAWING PRESS Filed July 6, 1931 8 Sheets-Sheet 7 Jan. 9, 1934. vN. E. METHLIN "1,943,032

METAL DRAWING PRESS Filed July 6, 1931 8 Sheets-Sheet 8 Patented Jan. 9,1934 UNITED STATES -METAL DRAWING PRESS Nicolas Emilien Methlin, Paris,France, assignor to Schneiderdz Cie., Paris, France, a company of FranceApplication-July 6, 1931, Serial No. 549,040, and.

in France August 5, 1930 21 Claims. (Cl. 2054) The present inventionrelates toimprovements irr-powerful metal drawing presses by means ofwhich a previously punched blank is drawn out, that is to say a blankhaving the form of a cylinder with an end upon which the free end of themandrel bears during the drawing operation.

It is known that such presses exist in which,

- for facilitating the engagement .of the blank on the mandrel, thelatter is jointed on its support in such a way that it can be moved toone side. These means permit the total size of the apparatus to bereduced on account of the fact that there is sufiicient space for easilypositioning the blank between the free end of the man- -'-drel in itsextreme withdrawn position and the drawing' dies.

0n the other hand the jointing of the mandrel presents the seriousdisadvantage of permitting the mandrel to develop play in the joint andconsequently make it very difficult to mount the blank on the mandrel,and also to centre the latter with respect to the draw plates during-thecourse of the operation. In other words, the mandrel can not only yield(vertical direction) on account of the play in the joint but can alsoswing to the side.

Moreover, in the known drawing presses the die or draw plate holders aregenerally arranged at a suitable distance apart for the blank to be ableto effect its complete travel through each die before engaging in thefollowing die. This takes up a considerable amount of space which, inthe case when four dies for example are employed is considerably greaterthan three times the length of the blank, since the latter becomeslengthened after each drawing operation.

The improvements which form the subject of the present invention permitthe above disadvantages of the known drawing presses to be removed; inparticular, they permit the'blank to be positioned easily and provide aconsiderable reduction in the space required by the use of a pluralityof draw plates, while permitting use to be made of a non-jointedmandrel.

,These improvements consist essentially in the use of a group of drawplates which can be moved out of the way with the cage in which the drawplate holders are mounted or without this cage. this withdrawingmovement in any case allowing the blank to have free access to the endof the mandrel, the positioning of the blank on the mandrel beingeffected under these conditions,

preferably according to a practical embodiment moved out of the wayalone or together with their cage, can travel freely on the frame of thepress for the engagement of the blank and its removal. In order to makethe free travel of the'blank supporting carriage possible in the casewhen use is made of a cage which-cannot be with drawn, that is to say acage in which onlythe draw plates are movable in the cage with a view tomoving them out of the way, this cage will, according to the invention,be constructed in the form of a yoke, that is to say without a lower 65base. the carriage then travellingfreely through the yoke when the drawplates are moved out of the way.

Aga n according to the invention, the draw plate holders will be movedout of such a cage 70 preferably in sucha manner that this can beeffected hydraulically, the draw plates being each adapted to beactuated separately, thus permitting them to be grouped in a small spaceand to be moved successively into the working position, 75 the whole ofthe space necessary for the draw plates not utilized being available forthe movement'of the blank through the single draw plate which is in theworking position.

The invention particularly comprisesthe use of a movable cross memberforming an intermediate support for the mandrel, this cross member beingadapted to be placed in varying positions according to the positionoccupied by the blank during the course of work, for example under theefiect of a displacement by means of a hydraulic press.

One practical embodiment of the invention is illustrated by way ofexample in the accompany- 'ing-drawings, in which: 99

section.

Figure 3 is a cross sectional elevation taken along the line 3-3 inFigure 1 Figures 4 and 5 are cross sectional elevations taken along thelines 4-4 and 5-5 respectively in Figure 1 'Figure 6 is an end view ofthe apparatus viewedfrom the right.

Figures '7 to 12 inclusive are diagrams illustrating modes of employmentof the invention, Figures 7' and 7 and 11 and 11 when joined together,constituting single diagrams.

In these-figures, A is a frame which, together no with a foundation Asupports the whole of the apparatus. Upon the frame A rests the cage forthe draw plate holders; this cage, in the example shown, is formedby-two stirrups made in three parts BB B assembled with two longitudinalplates of side members 3*. The cage is connected by tie rods C to asupport D secured to the foun-' dation A Two other tie rods E assist inmaintaining the two stirrups B assembled together.

In the support D is or are guided in the known manner one or moreplungers F upon which is attached a cross member G itself serving as asupporting and securing member for one of the ends of the mandrel H, notshown in Figure 2. The plungers F work in, press cylinders F car ried bya support F respect to the cage which is left fixed on the frame. Forthis purpose, the draw plate holders with the draw plates they containare guided in the longitudinal walls B of the cage, as shown in theupper half of the plan section in Figure 2*.

The displacement of the draw plate holders in their guides is hereobtained by means of hydraulic presses. Beneath each of the draw plateholders are arranged, directly under the guides in the side plates Bpress cylinders J (Figure 3), the pistons J of which bear beneath thedraw plate holders. These pistons, by lifting the draw plate holders,move in the interior of the walls B so that, when the draw plate holdershave been brought into the position shown in dot and dash lines inFigure 1*, in view of the fact that the portals or stirrups B of thecage comprise no cross members coupling them together at their lowerpart, a free path is then provided for the movement of the membercarrying the blank.

In the example shown, and according to the invention, the blank-carryingmember is formed by a carriage K guided by ribs 7:: in slots a in theframe (Figure 3). This carriage forms a support for two cradles L(omitted in Figure 2 upon which the blank M rests.

In order to permit the blank to be adjusted'in a vertical direction withrespect to the mandrel, the cradles according to the invention aremovable with respect to one another, and for this purpose they may besupported by pistons L movable in press cylinders K supported by thebody K of the carriage. These press cylinders K are supplied with liquidthrough telescopic P pes K, K together forming a piston, and the lastelement of which is movable in a fixed cylinder K receiving liquidthrough a duct K". The body of the carriage K is rigid with two pushrods or sliders N guided on the frame A and on which may be engaged, inany one of the notches n, a cross member N to which is coupled a pushrod N movable hydraulically, the rod N being for this purpose rigld witha piston movable in a press cylinder N The carriage K is preferablycombined with an abutment support O. The position of this support withrespect to the carriage may be regulated by means of a connectioncomprising stretchers O or any other analogous means.

The apparatus described permits the following operations to be carriedout: If it is assumed that the disappearing draw plate holders are inplace inthepositionshowninfulllinesini'igurer,

and the blank holding carriage is in the position shown in dot and dashlines in Figure 1, the presses J will be actuated by delivering liquidby means of a distributor not shown, so as to move the said draw plateholders into the inoperative position indicated in dot and dash lines inFig ure 1. The path of travel is thus left free for the blank-holdingcarriage combined with the abutment stop 0, the spacing of which withrespect to the carriage will have been previously adjusted according tothe length of the blank to be drawn out. The arrangement formed by thecarriage and this blank can travel through the cage forming a tunnel andbe brought into place for engaging the blank upon the mandrel. Thisengagement may be carried out with very great ease since anyeccentricity of the mandrel with'respect to the blank can be correctedby a suitable adjustment of the position of one of the cradles L withrespect to the other. In this way the blank, still in place on itscradle, will have been brought for example into the position shown infull lines in Figure 1. The successive positions 1, 2, 3 of the blankfor its engagement are represented in the diagram shown in Figures '7and 7*.

After this operation has been carried out, the cradles L will have to bemoved out of the way by cutting off the action of the liquid on thepistons of the press cylinders K the' lowering of the cradles beingfacilitated if desired by the action of return springs l acting uponguide rods L L The carriage which had been brought into position by apush exerted upon the sliders N through the medium of the cross member N11- may be returned backwards, by admitting liquid on to the oppositeface of the control piston which moves in the press cylinder N. Thecarriage will return so as to occupy the position shown in dot and dashlines in Figure 1.

According to the invention, the device described permits the separateactuation of each of the draw, plate holders so that the draw platesmayalternately and successively be brought into the working position andthen withdrawn.

The diagram given in Figure 8 shows the ,extreme right hand draw plate Ibrought into its working position, while the draw plates 1 I 1* remainout of action. This diagram shows that the whole space occupied by thedraw plates P, 125

I I may be employed for the travel of the blank during the drawingoperation through the draw plate 1 According to the invention the work,particularly on blanks of very great length, is facilitated without anyrisk of the mandrel yielding,

by the use of a supporting cross member P movable on a guide which maybe formed by the asv sembly cross ties C between the cage and the fixedsupport D. This cross member P may have 3!; any suitable form, forexample that indicated in Figures 1, 2 'and 5. The displacement of thecross member P may be obtained hydraulically by pistons P movable in apress cylinder P the control of which is again obtained by a suitabledistributor, and will be independent from that of the mandrel carryingcross member.

When the work through the draw plate I is completed, the mandrel H isreturned backwards by suitably distributing the liquid in the actuatingpress. This backward return causes the draw plate to be extracted fromthe draw plate holder and the draw plate moves into the positionindicated in Figure 9.

when the work has been completed with the draw :plate I thecorresponding draw plate holder is moved into the inoperative position,and the draw plate holder I is moved into the working position withthedraw plate it contains, so

.that the drawing operation can then be carried out. through this drawplate, as shown in the dia- ..sions and the temperature of the blank tobe drawn.

The diagram given in Figures 11 and 11 illus- .trates the operations forplacing a blank of great length in position. As will be seen, thedistance between the blank holder carriage K and the abutment support 0has been adjusted accordingly.

The diagram given in Figure 12 illustrates the use which may be made ofa draw plate holder as an abutment member for engaging the mandrel in ablank which has already been subjected. to drawing operations, with aview to carrying out additional passes.

. It will be understood that a blank which has already been subjected toconsiderable drawing no longer has sufiicient clearance with respect tothe mandrel to permit it to be placed on the mandrel by merely pushingthe blank against the mandrel by means of the carriage, whereas if theblank is supported on the carriage in abutting engagement with one ofthe draw plate hold- 35 easily be effected by moving the mandrel intoers, as shown in Figure 12, engagement may more the blank.

As indicated in the preamble to the description, one of the essentialand characteristic features of the invention resides in the removal ofthe drawing members into an inoperative position, first of all togetherand then separately, the

object of the simultaneous withdrawal being to leave the track free forthe entry of a blank holding member with a view to engaging the blank ona mandrel which will preferably be fixed.

This first withdrawal is moreover carried out preferably in conformityto the practical embodiment illustrated and'described, but'it may ifdesired be obtained by swinging, lifting or withdrawing the cage and itsdraw plates above the press or into a suitable channel, while theindividual withdrawal of the draw plate holders out .of their cagepermits different draw plates to be employed successively andalternately, in order to take advantage of the space occupied by thedraw plates not employed at the moment in the drawing operation.

I claim:

1. A metal drawing press comprising a movable mandrel, a plurality ofdie holders fixed in the line of travel of said mandrel and adapted tosupport the drawing dies, and fluid pressure actuated means forselectively moving said die holders into andv out of the path of saidmandrel at will.

2. A metal drawing press comprising a longitudinally movable mandrel, aplurality of die holders each adapted to support a drawing die in thepath of travel of said mandrel, said die :.holders being immovable inthe line of travel of said mandrel, and means for moving each of saiddie holders independently of the others in a direction angularly relatedto the line of travel of said mandrel whereby said holders and supporteddies may be selectively moved into and outof the path of said mandrel atwill.

3. A metal drawing press comprising a longitudinally movable mandrel, afixed cage member for supporting a plurality of drawing dies-in the pathof travel of said mandrel, a plurality of die holders slidably mountedin 'said cage, and means for moving each of said die holdersindependently of the others into and out of the path of said mandrel.

4. A metal drawing press comprising a horizontally movable mandrel, afixed cage member for supporting a plurality of dies in the path oftravel of said mandrel, said cage member being of an inverted U shapeand having horizontally spaced i vertical grooves in the sides thereof,a plurality of die holders slidably mounted in said grooves and eachadapted to support a drawing die therein, and means for selectivelymoving said die holders vertically into and out of the path of saidmandrel.

5. A metal drawingpress comprising a movable mandrel, a cage member forsupporting a plurality of drawing diesin the path of travel of saidmandrel, a plurality of die holders slidably mounted in the walls ofsaid cage and each supporting a drawing die therein, and means formoving said die holders into and out of the path of said mandrelincluding fluid pressure actuatedpiston's engaging said die holders andmoving wholly with-'- in the confines of the walls of said cage.

6. A metal drawing presscomprising a horizontally movable mandrel, afixed cage member for supporting a plurality of dies in the path oftravel of said mandrel, said cage member being of an inverted U shapeand having horizontally spaced vertical grooves in the sides thereof, aplurality of die holders slidably mounted in said grooves and eachadapted to support a drawing die therein, and fluid pressure actuatedmeans for moving said die holders vertically into and out of the path ofsaid mandrel including a cylinder mounted beneath each of said groovesin the sides of said cage, pistons for said cylinders the upper ends ofwhich are adapted to engage the bottoms. of said die holders and meansfor supplying fluid under pressure to said cylinders to raise saidpistons and die holders, said pistons moving wholly within the confinesof said grooves.

'7. A metal drawing press comprising a mandrel,- a blank supportingcarriage movable relatively to said mandrel, a plurality of die holdersinterposed between the normal positions of said carriage and mandrel andeach adapted to support a drawing die in the path of travel of saidmandrel, a fixed cage in which said die holders are mount ed, means formoving said die holders and supported dies out of the path of saidmandrel, and means for moving said carriage into the space normallyoccupied by said die holders and into 13,5

juxtaposition with said mandrel to place the blank thereon.

8. A metal drawing press comprising a cage member adapted to support aplurality of drawing dies, a plurality of die holders slidably mountedin said cage, a mandrel positioned on one side of said cage member, ablank supporting carriage normally positioned on the other side of saidcage member and movable relatively thereto, means for moving said dieholders out of the path of said i carriage, and means for moving saidcarriage into the space normally. occupied by said die holders and intojuxtaposition with said mandrel to place the blank thereon.

9. A metal drawing press comprising a manr50 drel, a cage member forsupporting a plurality of dies in the path of travel of said mandrel,said cage member being of an inverted U shape and having a plurality ofdie holders slidably mounted in the sides thereof, a blank supportingcarriage normally positioned on the side of said cage member opposite tosaid mandrel and capable of movement relative thereto, means for movingsaid die holders out of the path of said mandrel, and means for movingsaid carriage into the space normally occupied by said die holders andinto juxtaposition with said mandrel to place the blank thereon.

10. In a metal drawing press, a fixed frame with a die and a mandrelsupported thereon in normally coaxial alignment, and means for placing ablank to be drawn upon said mandrel comprising a blank supportingcarriage mounted on said fixed frame, and means for moving said carriagerelativelydao said frame and die and into juxtaposition with saidmandrel to place the blank thereon, and for returning said carriage toits original position prior to commencement of the drawing operation.

11. In a metal drawing press, a fixed frame with a dieand a mandrelsupported thereon in normally coaxial alignment, and means for placing ablank to be drawn upon said mandrel comprising a blank supportingcarriage mounted on said fixed frame, and fluid pressure actuated meansfor moving said carriage relatively to said frame and die and intojuxtaposition with said mandrel to place the blank thereon, and forreturning said carriageto its original position prior to commencement ofthe drawing operation.

12. In a metal drawing press, a fixed frame with a die and a mandrelsupported thereon in normally coaxial aligmnent, and means for placing ablank to be drawn upon said mandrel comprising a carriage mounted onsaid fixed frame, blank supporting cradle means carried by saidcarriage, means for moving said carriage relatively to said frame anddie and into juxtaposition with said mandrel to place the blank thereon,and for returning said carriage to its original position prior tocommencement of the drawing operation, and means for adjusting theposition of said cradle means relatively to said carriage whereby theposition of the axis of the supported blank may be varied relatively tothe axis of the mandrel.

13. In a metal drawing press having a fixed frame with a die and amandrel supported thereon, means for placing a blank to be drawn uponsaid mandrel comprising a carriage mounted on said fixed frame, blanksupporting cradle means carried by said carriage, means for moving saidcarriage relatively to said frame and die and into juxtaposition withsaid mandrel to place the blank thereon, and for returning said carriageto its original position prior to commencement of the drawing operation,and fluid pressure actuated means for adjusting the position of said,cradle means relatively to said carriage whereby the position of theaxis of the supporting blank may be varied relatively to the axis of themandrel.

14. In a metal drawing press having a fixed frame and a mandrelsupported thereon, means for placing a blank to be drawn upon saidmandrel comprising a carriage mounted on and guided by said fixed frame,means for moving said carriage relatively to said frame and intojuxtaposition with said mandrel, and means for supporting a blank uponsaid carriage including a cradle member carried by said carriage, apiston connected to said cradle member and housed in a cylinder mountedon said carriage, and means for subjecting said piston to the pressureof a fluid medium whereby the position of said blank supporting cradlemember may be adjusted with respect to said carriage and to the axis ofthe mandrel.

15. In a metal drawing press having a fixed frame and a mandrelsupported thereon, means for placing a blank to be drawn upon said man-'drel comprising a carriage mounted on and v guided by said fixed frame,means for moving said carriage relatively to said frame and intojuxtaposition with said mandrel, and means for supporting a blank uponsaid carriage including a pair of cradle members carried by saidcarriage, fiuid pressure actuated means for raising and lowering saidcradle members with re spect to said carriage, and return spring meansfor resiliently urging said cradle members to their lowermost positions.

16. In a metal drawing press having a fixed frame with a die holdingstructure and a mandrel supported thereon, means for placing a blank tobe drawn upon said'mandrel comprising a blank supporting carriagemounted on and guided by said fixed frame, means for moving saidcarriage relatively to said frame and die holding structure and intojuxtaposition with said mandrel, and means for abutting the closed endof said blank and preventing longitudinal displacement thereof withrespect to said carriage while said blank is being placed upon saidmandrel.

17. In a metal drawing press having a fixed frame with a die holdingstructure and a mandrel supported thereon, means for placing a blank tobe drawn upon said mandrel comprising a carriage mounted on said fixedframe and adapted to support a blank thereon, an abutment memberadjustably connected to said carriage and adapted to abut one end ofsaid blank, and means for moving said carriage and connected abutmentmember as a unit relatively to said frame and die holding structure andinto juxtaposition with said mandrel.

18. A process of drawing metal in a machine having a plurality of diesarranged in series including the steps of moving all of the die holdersout of their normal positions in the path of travel of the mandrel,moving a blank through the space normally occupied by said die holdersand placing the same upon the, mandrel, returning one of said dieholders to operative position, moving the mandrel to force the workcompletely through the die supported in said holder, re versing thedirection of movement of said mandrel and returning it to its startingposition, said reverse movement removing said die from its holder andplacing it on the mandrel, moving another die holder into operativeposition, and repeating the drawing operation.

19. In a metal drawing press, a mandrel, a cage member for supporting aplurality of closely adjacent drawing dies for cooperation with saidmandrel, a plurality of die holders slidably mounted in said cagemember, means for selectively moving said die holders into and out ofoperative position, each of said die holders supporting a die which isremovable therefrom by backward movement of the mandrel after the workhas been forced therethrough, and means for alternately moving saidmandrel forward and backward whereby the work is subjected to asuccession of complete drawing operations with out removal from themandrel.

20. A metal drawing press comprising a mandrel, a cage member forsupporting a plurality of drawing dies for cooperation with saidmandrel, means for moving said mandrel and cage member relatively to oneanother, a plurality of die holders slidably mounted in said cagemember, and means for selectively moving said die holders into and outof operative position, each of said die holders supporting a die soconstructed and arranged as to be fixed with respect to said holderduring the time that the mandrel is forcing the work through the die butto be removed from said.

holder upon reversal of the relative movements of said mandrel and cagemember and thereafter supported by said mandrel.

21. A metal drawing press comprising a mandrel, a cage member forsupporting a plurality of drawing dies for cooperation with saidmandrel, I

said holder at which the mandrel enters, whereby the die remains fixedwith respect to said holder during the time that the mandrel is forcingthe work through the die but is removed from said holder upon reversalof the relative movements of said mandrel and cage member and thereaftersupported by said mandrel.

NICOLAS EMJLIEN METI-ILIN.

